Kassala State Research Articles

Impact of gender-biased parental perceptions on under-immunization in Eastern Sudan: a cross-sectional study.

Despite global efforts, inequities in vaccine uptake remain, influenced by socioeconomic, geographic, cultural, and gender-related factors. In Eastern Sudan, gender disparities are acknowledged, particularly in livelihoods, but their impact on vaccination uptake is unclear. This study aimed to assess the effect of gender-biased parental perceptions on under-immunization among children in Kassala, Eastern Sudan. This study was a community-based cross-sectional in rural and urban districts of Kassala locality in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan in November 2022. Data were collected from parents using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. The Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was conducted to assess the factors associated with under-immunization among children. Data were collected from 400 parents. Our data reveal that most children were fully vaccinated with the three doses of the pentavalent vaccine (83%), while 14% were partially vaccinated. Findings showed that about one in five parents perceived male vaccination as more important than female vaccination. This parental perception of gender-based importance in vaccination was significantly associated with under-immunization among children (p-value = 0.049). Additionally, males in our study are fully vaccinated 5% more often than females. Socio-economic factors, including mothers' education and households' income level, were also significantly associated with the vaccination status of the children. This study shed light on the effect of gender norms and related determinants on equitable access to vaccinations for boys and girls alike. More research is needed to gain a better understanding of the gender norms related to vaccination and their long-term impact on immunization demand and resilience in this region.

Effect of Drip Irrigation Intervals and Fertigation Frequency on Yield and Yield Components of Cucumber under Greenhouse Conditions

The experiment was conducted in a cooled plastic tunnel greenhouse during March-August of 2022 and 2023 to study the effect of drip irrigation intervals and fertigation frequency on yield and yield components of cucumber under greenhouse conditions at Kassala State, Sudan. Seedlings of the most popular cucumber hybrid (Fatin) were planted on 40cm and 50 cm inter and intra-row spacing, respectively. The experiment was composed of two factors; irrigation intervals (every day, every 2 days and every 3 days) and fertigation frequencies applied at (one dose per week, two doses per week and 3 doses per week). The results showed that drip irrigation every day had recorded highest yield and yield components in both seasons. Maximum yields of cucumber were recorded with fertigation at three dose/week compared to fertigation at one dose/week in both seasons. Moreover, the highest values of yield, yield components, water productivity, economic water productivity and partial factor productivity of nitrogen were obtained under drip irrigation every day with fertigation at 3 dose/week on both seasons.

Effect of Drip Irrigation Regimes and Mulching on Cucumber Production under Cooled Plastic Tunnel Conditions, Kassala State, Sudan

An experiment was conducted in a cooled plastic tunnel greenhouse during March-August of 2022 and 2023, the objectives of this study to investigate the effect of drip irrigation regimes and mulching on yield and yield components of cucumber under greenhouse conditions, Kassala, Sudan. Seedlings of the most popular cucumber hybrid (Fatin) were planted on 40cm and 50 cm inter and intra-row spacing, respectively. The experiment was composed of two factors; the irrigation regimes (75%, 100% and 125% of recommended irrigation water) and the other was mulching (mulching and no mulching). These factors were arranged in split plot design with three replications. The main plots were allocated for irrigation regimes and subplots for mulching. The subplot size was 200cm×70cm (bed/mastaba). Results reported that125% of recommended irrigation water (RIW) under drip irrigation recorded highest yield and yield components in both seasons. Moreover, the highest values of yield and yield components; fruit length, fruit diameter and fruit weight were obtained under 125% of (RIW) with mulch while, the lowest were obtained with75% of (RIW) without mulch on both seasons. The highest values of water productivity and economic water productivity were recorded under 125% of (RIW) with mulch. On the other hands, the highest marginal rate return (MRR) was obtained under 100% of (RIW) with no mulch.

Hematological, Biochemical, and Inflammatory Markers in Patients Suffering from SARS-CoV-2 in Kassala, Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Hospital-Based Study

Introduction: Sudan faces the impact of SARS-CoV-2, emphasizing the urgency of timely detection and effective management. This study, conducted in Kassala, Sudan, aimed to evaluate key hematological, biochemical, and inflammatory markers in confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional hospital investigation was carried out in Kassala State, eastern Sudan, spanning from September 2020 to January 2021. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected from individuals suspected of having COVID-19 using a structured questionnaire. Nasopharyngeal swab was targeted for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 while a blood sample was processed for haematological and biochemical parameters. Results: The study included 371 participants, revealing a prevalence of COVID-19 PCR positive of 61.7% (229/371). In particular, most were male (65%), with a mean age of 42.9±19.9 years. A substantial case fatality rate of 15.7% (36/229) was observed, predominantly among people 60 years and older (P < 0.001). RT-PCR-confirmed patients exhibited significant associations with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels, prolonged Prothrombin time, extended partial thrombin time, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphopenia and hypocalcemia (P < 0.000). Conclusion: This study illuminates the impact of COVID-19 on crucial hematological, renal electrolyte, inflammatory, and coagulation markers. These findings have the potential to enhance patient outcomes and reduce mortality rates by guiding informed actions and shaping public health policies.

Factors influencing water strategy objectives fulfillment: A survey findings from Sudan

AbstractChallenges faced by countries in their struggle for economic and social development are increasingly related to water. Developing and managing water resources requires an appropriate water strategy. However, many factors influence the achievement of desired goals of water strategies. This qualitative study analyzes factors influencing water strategies to promote appropriate water management. Data was collected during 2019 from 10 states of North Kurdufan, White Nile, Gezira, Sennar, Gedarif, Khartoum, Kassala, Red Sea, River Nile, and Northern state in Sudan. A total of 300 people including water officials, water supply engineers, and community leaders were interviewed. Water availability, community participation, coordination between water institutions, integrated water resources management (IWRM), and finance were identified as factors influencing water strategy objectives fulfillment. Out of 300 respondents in all states, a group of 149 (49.7%), mentioned that water strategy objectives were fulfilled and more than half of the respondents 151 (50.3%) evaluated that water strategy objectives were not fulfilled. A multiple regression statistically significantly predicted water strategy objective achievement, F (5, 295) = 57.6314 p < .005, R = .704. R2 = .485, from water availability, coordination between water‐related institutions, IRWM, and availability of finance. Results show that community participation, water availability, coordination between water‐related institutions, and availability of finance are insignificantly (p > .005) influenced water strategy objective fulfillment. The findings will contribute to the social dimension of water resources management and development.

Tuberculosis in Sudan: systematic review and meta analysis

Every year, 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis (TB). Despite being a preventable and curable disease, 1.5 million people die from TB each year -making it the world’s top infectious disease. TB is the leading cause of death of people with HIV and also a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance. Its presumed that TB was the cause of 1% of the total deaths among inpatients in Sudan in 2017. The current study is aimed to provide pooled prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Sudanese as well as to determine any socio-cultural risk factors associated. A systematic review of the literature was conducted and regulated in accordance with the PRISMA Statement. After abstract and full text screening only twenty-six articles met our inclusion criteria and passed the quality assessment procedure. Pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence was assessed in sixteen included studies among participants from Khartoum, Gezira, Kassala, Blue Nile, River Nile, White Nile, Gadarif, Red sea, North Kordofan, Northern State, Sennar and West Darfur States, representing a total sample size of 11,253 participants of suspected individuals such as febrile outpatients, TB patients’ contacts and other groups such as HIV/AIDS patients, hemodialysis patients, School adolescents as well as pregnant women. The pooled prevalence was 30.72% [CI: 30.64, 30.81]. Moreover, Khartoum State recorded the highest pooled prevalence as 41.86% [CI: 14.69, 69.02] based on a total sample size of 2,737 participants. Furthermore, male gender and rural residence were found to be significantly associated with TB infection. Further research with larger sample sizes targeting prevalence and risk factors of TB among Sudanese population is needed to be conducted.

Mitotic metaphase karyotype of the mosquito Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae) from Kassala State, eastern Sudan

The mosquito Anopheles arabiensis Patton is the most important malaria vector in Sudan. The study was conducted for the first time to describe numerically the karyotype of An. arabiensis from Kassala State, eastern Sudan. Adults An. arabiensis were caught from human dwellings during the rainy season of 2022. We examined for the first time the utility of brain ganglia tissues of adult mosquitoes for mitotic chromosomal preparations using Giemsa stain - spreading technique. High-quality chromosomal preparations were examined and photographed. Chromosome measurements were carried out using computer software and analyzed statistically using SPSS® software. The diploid mitotic chromosome complement of An. arabiensis consists of three pairs of chromosomes, two pairs of metacentric autosomes (chromosome II and chromosome III) and one acrocentric dot-shaped pair, sex chromosome, which is homomorphic in females (XX) and heteromorphic in males (XY). Chromosome II was described as the longest (2.61±0.07) of the complement and constitute 44.39% of the total length (5.88 μm) of the haploid chromosomes set, while chromosome I (X=1.39 ±0.04; Y=1.04±0.04) as the shortest chromosome. Chromosome X appears in the males significantly larger than chromosome Y (P = 0.00). Chromosome III has an intermediate length (1.88±0.06) compared with the other chromosomes. Comparison of the average lengths of the three chromosome pairs by ANOVA test revealed highly statistical significant differences between them (P < 0.00). The study establishes a strong cytogentic data, which can contribute to accurate identification of the mosquito An. arabiensis and to planning human malaria vector control programs in Kassala State, eastern Sudan.

Comparative analysis of immunological biomarkers in COVID-19 and bacterial pneumonia.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe and infectious respiratory condition caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This case-control study aimed to evaluate serum levels of various immunological markers in patients with COVID-19 compared to those with bacterial pneumonia and a healthy control group. Serum samples were collected from adult participants across various COVID-19 isolation centers, including Kassala State and Ahmed Gasim Hospital, between April and June 2021. The study included 70 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 30 with bacterial pneumonia, and 50 healthy controls. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), complement components C3 and C4, and cytokines IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were measured using standard reagent kits. Serum level of CRP was significantly elevated in both bacterial pneumonia and COVID-19 but significantly higher among patients with bacterial pneumonia. C3 and C4 were also increased in both patient groups, with C3 significantly higher in bacterial pneumonia. IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were significantly increased in bacterial pneumonia and SARS-Cov-2 compared to healthy controls. However, IFN-γ was significantly increased among patients with COVID-19 than patients with bacterial pneumonia. This study highlights the potential significant impact of COVID-19 on the immunological biomarkers investigated.

Prevalence of Malaria Parasite among Pregnant Women Attending to Saudi Kassala Teaching Hospital in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan.

Malaria during pregnancy is a priority area for malaria research and control as pregnant women represent a high risk group for severe malaria, and the presentation of malaria during pregnancy varies according to the level of transmission in the area; so the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence rates of malaria parasite among pregnant women attending to Saudi Kassala Teaching hospital in Kassala state, 2022. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Saudi Kassala Teaching hospital in Kassala State. This study involved one hundred and eighty-five blood samples collected from pregnant women who was then examined by using blood films and ICT for malaria, and the data were collected by a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 21. The prevalence of malaria among pregnant women was 2.2% (95% CI: 0.006-0.054). There was no significant difference among the different age groups with respect to the prevalence of malaria (P value = 0.483). The prevalence of malaria in rural residency was 2.2%, and this was significantly more common than the urban residency (P value = 0.021). When compared across the gestational trimesters, there was no significant difference between them (P value = 0.518). The number of gravidity is not related to malaria infection (P value = 0.737). The presence of symptom compliant of malaria during pregnancy does not suggest the presence of malaria (P value = 0.152). No difference was found between the different educational levels with respect to the prevalence of malaria (P value = 0.362). The result showed that there was 1 (0.5%) negative result in ICT which was positive in blood film for malaria (BFFM) and there were 3 (1.6%) positive malaria parasites by both methods in all 185 samples with statistically insignificant differences (P = 0.703). Plasmodium falciparum was only species detected in this study. Malaria among pregnant women was more prevalent in rural areas. However, other factors such as age, gestational age, gravidity, and educational level do not affect the prevalence of malaria in pregnant women. The presence of symptomatic compliant of malaria during pregnancy does not suggest the presence of malaria. The use of ICT or BFFM has similar diagnostic outcome for malaria in pregnancy.

Assessment of the readiness and response toward the dengue fever outbreak (2019) in Sudan: a qualitative exploration

BackgroundDengue fever (DF) is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquito species and has been considered a major public health problem in Kassala State for tens of years. This study aimed to assess the level of readiness and response toward the 2019 dengue fever outbreak in Kassala at the state and community levels.MethodsThis exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in Kassala State, Sudan, from January to March 2020. The researcher conducted interviews with the key respondents at the state level to assess the level of readiness and response and to reflect the capacity of institutions—public health authorities, health systems, and emergency response bodies.ResultsThe surveillance system reported 3961 DF cases in Kassala State, representing 93.5% of the total cases in Sudan between August 2019 and January 2020. This outbreak was identified by passive surveillance, 51 samples were tested during the outbreak period, and private clinics and labs were not included in the surveillance system. According to the WHO checklist of outbreak readiness and response, Kassala's surveillance system and public health laboratory received the lowest scores.ConclusionsThe study concludes that outbreak readiness and response could be considered below standards, mainly in the surveillance system and laboratory diagnostic facilities, due to the absence of intersectoral collaboration with a regulatory framework in terms of financial and operational participation.

Seroepidemiological Survey of Cytomegalovirus Infection among Pregnant Women in Sudan.

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading healthcare problem associated with stillbirth and congenital abnormalities. Determining the seroprevalence and the possible risk factors related to HCMV infections may be a cornerstone in preventing its complications. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kassala and River Nile States to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with HCMV infection in pregnant women. One hundred eighty-four (n = 184) blood specimens were collected from pregnant women from February 2018 to January 2020. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect HCMV-specific IgG and IgM antibodies. Socio-demographical characteristics of the women were collected using structured questionnaires. The results showed that HCMV IgG was detected in 170 (92.4%) of the blood specimens, and IgM was detected in 29/93 (31.2%). There was a significant relationship between the history of miscarriage and the presence of IgG and IgM with a p-value = 0.001 and between HCMV IgM and gestational stage (p-value = 0.028). The study found a strikingly high seroprevalence of HCMV infections among pregnant women in the investigated States. This high percentage of illiterate housewives living in rural areas makes it possible to reduce the incidence of HCMV infection in pregnant women by improving their knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the route of viral transmission, which may reflect in lowering the rate of congenital diseases in their infants.

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN (WOMEN'S PRESENCE AND CIVILIZATION) THE ROLE OF EDUCATED WOMEN IN RAISING CHILDREN

This study aimed to know the role of educated women in raising children in Kassala State. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the General Director of Care, Discussion، Study، Direction, Studies، Discussion، Direction and Vision from the references, and then arrange them in the classification in terms of length and length in your arrangement in Arabic. Among the most important findings of the study: There is a relationship between women's education and their ability to practice correct educational methods. There are some obstacles that prevent women from continuing education, such as distance from schools, early marriage, customs and traditions، or economic aspects. Educated women have greater knowledge in terms of psychological, health and cognitive aspects. Education benefits women in obtaining a material income that helps them in their requirements. Family stability allows a woman the ability to raise her son properly. The study also came out with a number of recommendations: Conducting research on the obstacles to women's education. Paying attention to the education of women so that they can know the correct methods of raising their children and know their rights and defend them. Providing modern educational opportunities and methods that are compatible with women’s conditions، such as the open education system، as it is a system that provides women with better learning opportunities that suit their family circumstances. Parents must create the appropriate climate for their children and ensure that love، attention and tenderness prevail in the family. Holding lectures and workshops to raise awareness of the importance of girls' education. Paying attention to the media and including it in programs to raise awareness of the importance of education.

Additions to the distribution of Sudanese scorpions

Six species of scorpion (Arachnida: Scorpiones) are documented from eighteen localities in seven different states within the Republic of the Sudan. Combining this new data with historical records in the Sudan Natural History Museum and the published literature enables the first provisional distribution maps for Sudanese scorpions. New state records could be added for three medically significant species: Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826) from Khartoum, North Kordofan and North Darfur, Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1829) from Kassala, River Nile, White Nile and North Darfur, and Parabuthus abyssinicus (Pocock, 1901) from Kassala. Among the less venomous species, we offer new state records for Buthacus leptochelys (Ehrenberg, 1829) in White Nile State, for Compsobuthus werneri (Birula, 1908) in North Kordofan, White Nile and Kassala States and for Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881) in River Nile, Northern and Kassala States. Further information about the taxonomy, distribution and toxicity of Sudanese scorpions is presented.

Mosquito fauna and the first record of Aedes vittatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kassala State, eastern Sudan

Mosquito fauna and the first record of Aedes vittatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kassala State, eastern Sudan

Epidemiology of Camel Brucellosis Intended for Export from Kassala State – Eastern Sudan

Summary This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence rate of Brucellosis and to identify the risk factors for Brucella infection in camels intended for export from Kassala State. A total of 400 blood samples were collected for serum from all Kassala localities, tested using Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay C.ELISA). The prevalence rate was (29.5 %) and (27.8%) based on the results of RBPT and C.ELISA respectively. According to sex, the prevalence rate of the disease was (30.4%) out of 335 in males and (24.6%) out of 65 in females. There were no clinical signs of camel's Brucellosis in all tested animals. The prevalence of the disease was (14.4%) in Rural KhashmElgerba, (15.3%) in North Delta, (8.5%) in Wad Elhilau, Rural Kassala (11.9%), Hamashkoreb (12.7%), Rustic Arouma (14.4%), Talkook (16.9%) and Atbra river locality (5.9%) with a significant statistical difference. Herds with more than 20 camels were more frequently affected. In this study the Seroprevalence of Brucella was (9.3 %) in young (1-2 years) and (23.7%) in adult camels (above 5 years). The results of the present study provide the status of seropositivity to Brucella in camels intended for export in Kassala State and the risk factors that contribute to prevalence of Brucellosis among camels. This situation requires more attention and effort to implement. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 10(4): 216-220.

Hiv testing and counseling services in Kassala State, Sudan: what are the relevant beliefs of private healthcare providers?

ABSTRACT HIV testing and counseling (HTC) services are essential for all HIV prevention and treatment interventions. Evidence is limited on the role of private healthcare providers in providing HTC services. This study assessed the relevant beliefs for intervention to enhance the intention to offer HTC services among private healthcare providers. A cross-sectional study included 387 private healthcare providers who completed a questionnaire about beliefs and intentions regarding offering HTC services. A Confidence Interval Based Estimation of Relevance (CIBER) approach was used to identify the most relevant beliefs. The behavioral belief “Offering HTC services would cause patients to feel worries” and the normative belief “My managers believe that I should offer HTC services to patients” were relevant beliefs for intervention. The control beliefs “If I offer HTC services, I spend more time with the patients” and “Patients are at low risk of HIV, and they would not need HTC services” were significantly associated with intention and important intervention candidates. The belief “If I offer HTC services, I would be concerned about HIV test results confidentiality” was a relevant belief to target with intervention. The beliefs of private service providers differ in their association with relevance to their intention to offer HTC services. More relevant beliefs need to be selected to increase the potential effectiveness of the interventions to promote the private healthcare providers’ intentions to offer HTC services.

Psychosocial beliefs of health providers' intention and behavior of offering HIV testing and counseling services: Estimating their relevance for intervention.

Diagnosis of people with HIV is vital in achieving the 95-95-95 global targets. The proportion of people with HIV who know they have HIV in Sudan is low. Promoting engagement of healthcare providers (HCPs) in offering HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) services would improve the percentage of diagnosed people with HIV in the country. This study aims to assess the psychosocial beliefs associated with HCPs' intention and behavior to offer HTC services and their relevance for intervention. This institutional cross-sectional study was conducted in Kassala State, from July 2019 to February 2020, among 438 healthcare providers from public health facilities. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess behavior and intention to offer HTC services and related behavioral, normative, and control beliefs. Data were analyzed using R software. Confidence Interval Based Estimation of Relevance (CIBER) was used to estimate the relevance of the beliefs to interventions. The CIBER analysis showed that the belief "It causes many worries for patients if I offer or counsel them about HIV test" was negatively associated with HCPs' intention and behavior to offer HTC services and a highly relevant belief for intervention. The belief "My manager thinks I should offer or counsel patients about HIV test" was positively associated with the behavior and intention to offer HTC services and was a relatively highly relevant belief. The control belief "Patients are at low risk of HIV and do not need offering or counseling about HIV test" was negatively associated with HCPs' intention and behavior and was relevant for intervention. The control belief "If I offered or counseled patients about HIV test, I would spend more time with them" was negatively associated with the intention and behavior of HCPs toward HTC services, with high relevance to target with intervention. The belief "My colleagues think I should offer or counsel patients about HIV test" was weakly associated with behavior and intention, and it is a low relevant belief for intervention. Different psychosocial beliefs among healthcare providers can influence their intention and behavior to offer HTC services to patients. More relevant beliefs are required to be targeted with interventions to promote the intention and behavior of providing HTC services among health care providers.

Combining Ability Analysis for Grain Yield and Some Agronomic Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.) Inbred Lines Throughout, Diallel Mating Design at Kassala State, Sudan

This study was conducted to analyze the combining ability for yield and some agronomic traits of maize inbred lines at two locations, Tacroof, Kassala Research Station farm and Sawagi in a farmer field, at Kassala state, Sudan Five parental line (TZBRD-ADQ-2, TZBRD-ADQ-3, TZBRD-ADQ-4, TZBRD-AD-5 and TZBRD-COMP-6) and their ten single cross (F1hybrid) (TZBRD-ADQ-2× TZBRD-ADQ-3, TZBRD-ADQ-2× TZBRD-ADQ-4, TZBRD-ADQ-2× TZBRD-AD-5, TZBRD-ADQ-2× TZBRD-COMP-6, TZBRD-ADQ-3× TZBRD-ADQ-4, TZBRD-ADQ-3 ×TZBRD-AD-5, TZBRD-ADQ-3× TZBRD-COMP-6, TZBRD-ADQ-4× TZBRD-AD-5, TZBRD-ADQ-4× TZBRD-COMP-6 and TZBRD-AD-5× TZBRD-COMP-6) of maize developed by using Diallel mating design. Four experiments were conducted in two consecutive summer seasons 2016 and 2017. The studied traits included days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, plant height (cm), ear height (cm), ear length (cm), ear diameter (cm), number of rows per ear, number of kernel per row, 100 kernel weight (g), and grain yield (ton/ha). Out of the five parents considered as the best combiner at Kassala site, such as parent TZBRD-COMP-6, TZBRD-ADQ-3 and TZBRD-ADQ-4, which showed a highly significant general combining ability effects in desirable direction for all studied traits. Therefore, these lines could be utilized in improvement of the respective traits in any breeding programs where hybridization was involved. Regarding to, Sawagi location, the best combiner were the parents TZBRD-ADQ-3, TZBRD-COMP-6, and TZBRD-ADQ-2 recorded highly significant general combining ability effects in desirable direction for 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, ear length, ear diameter, 100 kernels weight, number of row per ear, number of kernel per row and grain yield. Among the ten cross combinations, the best cross was, TZBRD-ADQ-2× TZBRD-ADQ-3 recorded significant SCA effect in the desirable direction for all traits except days to 50% silking, plant height and number of kernel per row at Kassala location, but at Sawagi location cross TZBRD-ADQ-3×TZBRD-COMP-6 recorded significant SCA effect in the desirable direction for days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, plant height and number of kernel per row, followed by cross TZBRD-ADQ-2×TZBRD-ADQ-3 which recorded a significant SCA effect in the desirable direction for ear height, ear length and grain yield.

The Role of Implementation of IDSR Strategy on Indicators of the Core and Supportive Surveillance Functions at the Head of Localities

Background: Disease surveillance is a cornerstone of outbreak detection and control. The evaluation of a disease surveillance system is important to ensure its performance over time.
 Objectives: The role of implementation; of IDSR strategy on indicators of the core and supportive surveillance functions at the head of localities.
 Materials and methods: An intervention approach (one group pre-test post-test design) was conducted and baseline data of communicable diseases surveillance was obtained from selected Kassala state, four localities, and 60 health facilities. After implementing an integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) strategy for six months to evaluate core and support functions. The same questionnaire (WHO- guided modified and tested questionnaire) that was used in the baseline was applied.
 Results: The study showed that indicators of the supportive at the head of locality was improved at the head of four localities in terms of standards and guidelines, training, supervision and resources which witnessed significant improvement during pre and post intervention more than 90%.
 Conclusion: Improvements in indicators of core and support functions at the locality and state levels are inextricably linked to the quality of activities carried out at health facility levels. This was noticed when the value of intervention-supported functions increased, which may also be justified by the technique of computation technique, which is based on the aggregate of indicators of health facilities.

Article Retracted

Background: Disease surveillance is a cornerstone of outbreak detection and control. The evaluation of a disease surveillance system is important to ensure its performance over time.
 Objectives: The role of implementation; of IDSR strategy on indicators of the core and supportive surveillance functions at the head of localities.
 Materials and methods: An intervention approach (one group pre-test post-test design) was conducted and baseline data of communicable diseases surveillance was obtained from selected Kassala state, four localities, and 60 health facilities. After implementing an integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) strategy for six months to evaluate core and support functions. The same questionnaire (WHO- guided modified and tested questionnaire) that was used in the baseline was applied.
 Results: The study showed that indicators of the supportive at the head of locality was improved at the head of four localities in terms of standards and guidelines, training, supervision and resources which witnessed significant improvement during pre and post intervention more than 90%.
 Conclusion: Improvements in indicators of core and support functions at the locality and state levels are inextricably linked to the quality of activities carried out at health facility levels. This was noticed when the value of intervention-supported functions increased, which may also be justified by the technique of computation technique, which is based on the aggregate of indicators of health facilities.